David Cameron's "big society" gong, the anachronistically named British Empire Medal, makes its first appearance for 20 years in the Queen's birthday honours today, rewarding "hands-on" service to local communities.

As actors Kenneth Branagh and Kate Winslet collect a knighthood and CBE respectively, 293 BEMs, known as the "working-class gong" and scrapped by John Major in 1991 in his efforts to make the honours system "classless", are also awarded.

Revived by Cameron to encourage the "big society" and reward volunteering, BEM recipients include waitress Patricia Carter, for services to the hospitality industry, apiarist Geoffrey Hopkinson, for services to beekeeping, and many others involved with local community work, charities, and sports.

Sir Bob Kerslake, head of the civil service who chairs the main honours committee, said the re-introduction of the BEM for the Diamond Jubilee extended the reach of the honours system. "One of the clear steers from the prime minister has been his desire to reflect in the honours system commitments around the 'big society'," he said. The medals are presented locally by lords lieutenant.

As is usual, the honours list contains several high-profile names, and "thrilled" was the most-used adjective by recipients.

Following the Buckingham Palace Diamond Jubilee concert, tabloid predictions of an honour for Gary Barlow, 41, were realised. The Take That singer was "absolutely thrilled" at his OBE, awarded for services to the entertainment industry and to charity.

Actor Jenny Agutter, 59, of the Railway Children fame who recently starred in the BBC1 drama Call the Midwife, was "thrilled and touched" by her OBE for charitable services.

Branagh, 51, was more than thrilled. He was "humble, elated and incredibly lucky" he said of his knighthood for services to drama and the community in Northern Ireland. "When I was a kid I dreamed of pulling on a shirt for the Northern Ireland football team. I could only imagine how proud you might feel. Today it feels like they just gave me the shirt, and my heart's fit to burst."

Winslet, 36, the Oscar-winning actor, said she was "surprised and honoured" at her CBE for drama, which made her "very proud to be a Brit".

Knighthoods went to Richard Stilgoe, the songwriter who was "astonished and thrilled", and Charles Dunstone, founder of Carphone Warehouse, both recognised for philanthropy.

Tessa Jowell, the former culture secretary, is made a dame for service in support of the Olympics. Zaha Hadid, the Iraqi-born architect who designed the aquatics centre at the Olympic Park, and Mary Archer, chair of the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, are also made dames. There are knighthoods for Michael Boyd, artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and David McVicar, Scottish opera director. Amanda Redman, star of the police drama New Tricks, and who founded the Artists Theatre School, receives an MBE.

The Woman in Black author Susan Hill, who receives a CBE, said: "I was in France and the letter was forwarded in a lot of post. It was lovely."

Armando Iannucci, 48, who wrote the Westminster sitcom series the Thick of It, warned his OBE, for services to broadcasting, would not prevent him from continuing to ridicule politicians. "I just hope it's not an attempt by the government to stop me because that's not going to happen," he joked.

Gareth Malone, the choirmaster behind the Military Wives choir, and Kwame Kwei-Armah, the playwright, director and actor, both receive OBEs. Kwei-Armah said his was a tribute to the "immigrant's dream" that brought his parents to the UK from the West Indies.

In the media, former Spectator editor Alexander Chancellor is awarded a CBE for services to journalism.

The list also features the first high-level honour awarded for services to international climate change diplomacy. Ambassador John Ashton, the Foreign Office's special representative for climate change, receives a CBE for his role in the UK's engagement with China and other major economies on global warming and in UN climate negotiations.

With the Olympics looming, sports stars get recognition, as do several members of the Olympics Delivery Authority. There are MBEs for Luke Donald, the golf world No 1, Shane Williams, the former Wales rugby international, and David James, former England goalkeeper. Paul Elliott, the former Chelsea player subjected to racist abuse from opposition fans, and now a champion of football's anti-racism movement, gets a CBE.

Sarah Burton, who designed the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress, as well as the bridesmaid dress that brought publicity for her sister, Pippa, is recognised with an OBE. A CBE goes to Emma Hill, creative director of fashion company Mulberry.

Eddie Kidd, 52, the motorcycle stuntman who was left wheelchair-bound after an accident in 1996, receives an OBE for services to charitable giving.

A total of 1,201 people were recommended to the Queen for an award, with 1,064 candidates selected at BEM, MBE and OBE level, while 72% of recipients are involved in charitable or voluntary work in their local community.